Haematology & Immunology Flashcards
What are the main features of myeloma? (CRAB)
→ HyperCalcaemia
→ Renal failure
→ Anaemia
→ Bone disease
What is lactate a marker of?
Is a high or low lactate good?
Hypoperfusion (reduced O2 reaching the tissues)
LOW lactate - the higher the lactate, the more tissues are without O2!
What is the function of haptoglobin?
It transports free haemoglobin in the bood → reticuloendothelial system to be recycled
Which ethnic group is sepsis most common within?
Asians
What is a characteristic finding on a blood film that indicates Hodgkins lymphoma?
Reed-sternberg cells
List 4 risk factors for Hodkins lymphoma:
What is the key presenting symptom?
What is the diagnostic test/ investigation?
~ What is a key finding in this?
What is the staging used in all lymphoma’s? - describe the stages
→ Smoking
→ Epstein barr virus
→ HIV
→ Immunosuppression
Lymphadenopathy - non-tender, alcohol causes pain in lymph nodes
Lymph node biopsy
~ Reed sternberg cells
Ann Arbor Staging:
Stage 1: Only 1 lymph node group affected
Stage 2: Several lymph nodes affected but on the same side of diaphragm
Stage 3: Several lymph nodes affected but on different sides of diaphragm
Stage 4: Organ invovlement (eg, lungs/ liver)
What is the name given for premature RBCs? (these are the RBCs just before they are released into the circulaton)
Reticulocytes
What is the difference between petechiae & purpura?
What is ecchymoses?
- *Petechiae** < 3mm
- *Purpura** 4 - 10mm
Ecchymoses is bleeding under the skin that is larger than 1cm!
In haemotology, what is the function of G6PD?
What is the result of a G6PD deficiency?
List some common triggers of this: (3)
What ar the common clinical features seen? (3)
G6PD is an enzyme that attaches onto RBCs to protect them against oxidative stress
G6PD deficiency causes haemolysis of RBC when there is oxidative stress → haemolytic anaemia
1) Infection
2) Broad beans (fava beans)
3) Drugs (antimalarials, nitrofurantoin, aspirin)
1) Anaemia
2) Jaundice
3) Splenomegaly
Anaphylaxis is what type of hypersensitivity reaction?
This type of reaction is mediated by what?
Type 1 hypersensitivity reaction
IgE mediated mast cell degranulation
What is Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)?
What blood abnormality does it result in?
What is the 1st line treatment for ITP?
If this doesn’t work, what do you add to the treatment?
Autoimmune attack of platelets (antibodies are made against platelets)
Results in thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)
1st line treatment: steroids
If steroids don’t work, add in IV IgG (immunoglobulins)
What blood levels of Hb would indicate anaemia in:
- a -* females
- b -* males
Females: < 120 g/L
Males: < 140 g/L
What is a characteristic finding on a blood film that indicates acute myeloid leukamia?
Auer rods
What system is used to stage lymphoma’s?
Ann Arbor staging
Cancers within the bone marrow can cause what result on a FBC?
Why can this occur?
Pancytopenia
Occurs when the cancerous occupy most of the space within the bone marrow - normal blood cells are unable to develop!
Give the medical name for a red blood cell.
What is the name given to the production of RBCs?
What hormone is responsible for stimulation of RBC production?
Where is this hormone secreted from & why is it secreted?
Erythrocyte
Erythropoesis
Erythropoietin
Kidney in response to hypoxia
What are the 2 antibiotics that are started if neutropenic sepsis is suspected?
~ Tazocin
~ Gentamicin
What immunological mechanism is responsible for type 2 hypersensitivity reactions?
Auto-antibody mediated receptor activation
What is the qSOFA score used for?
What 3 variables does the qSOFA consider?
A score of what suggests a poor prognosis?
Used on patients with a suspected/ confirmed infection to predict the patients who would likely require a higher level of care & have a poorer prognosis
→ BP
→ Mental state (level of conscousness)
→ Respiratory rate
Score of 2 or more
What is the prophylaxis management of haemophilia?
How is an acute episode of bleeding treated? (3)
Replacement of clotting factors via IV transfusions (VIII - A, IX - B)
1) Infusions of affected clotting factor (VIII or IX)
2) Desmopressin (DDAVP) - to stimulate VWF release
3) Tranexamic acid - reduces the rate of fibrinolysis so that clot remains for longer
List some causes for a decreased production of RBC’s in the bone marrow (4)
Bone marrow disorder
Chronic kidney disease (reduced secretion of erthyropoietin reduces RBC production!)
Hypothyroidism (thyroid hormones also stimulate RBC production)
Iron & vitamin B12 deficiency (these are needed for functional RBC production)
What is the abnormality that results in polycythaemia vera?
What mutation is associated with polycythaemia vera?
List some clinical signs/ symptoms of this condition: (5)
What is the management of this condition?
Proliferation of RBC’s
JAK2 mutation
- Red face (plethora)
- Vascular occlusion (DVT/ PE/ Stroke)
- Splenomegaly
- Headaches
- Itchy, especially after hot bath
Management: venesection (to prevent hyperviscosity of blood) & aspirin
Name the 2 divisions of the immune system:
Innate & adaptive immune systems
Regarding fluids, (colloid & crystalloid’s):
1) give an example of each type commonly used in hospital
2) describe the size of the molecules they contain & the consequence of this on fluid compartments within the body
3) state a contraindiction in each type
- *1) Colloid**: fluid containing starch/ gelatin
- *Crystalloid**: plasmalyte/ hartmans/ dextrose/ 0.9%NaCl
- *2) Colloid:** large molecules → more fluid is retained in the blood vessels
- *Crystalloid:** small molecules → some fluid remains in blood vessels & some moves into the tissues/ cells
- *3)** Colloid: the large molecules can cause kidney damage (so cannot be used in patients with renal failure)
- *Crystalloid:** 0.9%NaCl has a high Na conc so can cause hypernatraemia
What is lactate a marker of?
Is a high or low lactate good?
Hypoperfusion (reduced O2 reaching the tissues)
LOW lactate - the higher the lactate, the more tissues are without O2!
What abnormality is seen in haemophilia A?
What abnormality is seen in haemophilia B?
What is the mode of inheritance of haemophilia?
What tests would you do to diagnose haemophilia and what results would you expect in haemophilia? (3)
Haemophilia A: deficiency of clotting factor VIII
Haemophilia B: deficiency of clotting factor IX
X linked recessive
1) Clotting factor tests - to look at levels of factors VIII & IX (low VIII in haemophila A & low IX in haemophilia B)
2) Blood test- APTT*: prolonged
3) Blood test- prothrombin: normal
* APTT = blood test that measures time taken for blood to clot
Which electrolyte abnormality can blood transfusions cause?
Why does this happen?
Hypocalcaemia
When blood is donated, it’s mixed with sodium citrate to prevent it from coagulating. → The citrate in the blood can bind to the patient’s circulating calcium resulting in a decreased amount of free calcium = symptoms of hypocalcaemia
What test would be used to test for an autoimmune cause of haemolytic anaemia?
What result would suggest an autoimmune cause & what would be seen in the lab?
DAT test (direct antiglobulin test) / coombs test (old name)
Positive result = immune mediated
Agglutination of RBCs (they clunp together)
List some common presentations of von Willebrand disease: (5)
→ nose bleeds
→ menorrhagia
→ bleeding gums when brushing teeth
→ prolonged, heavy bleeding during surgery/ trauma
→ easy bruising
What is the normal range of WBC in blood?
4 - 10 x109/L
What are 3 commonest pathogens responsible for causing neonatal sepsis?
What antibiotics are used in the 1st line management of neonatal sepsis?
1) Group-B strep
2) E.Coli
3) Listeria
IV penicillin & gentamicin
What is the function of Von Willebrand Factor?
What abnormality results in von Willebrand disease?
What is the mode of inheritance of VWD?
VWF is vital for clot formation: • links platelets to the exposed, damaged vessel wall • stabilises factor VIII so that it can work for longer
A deficiency of, or dysfunctional VWF
Autosomal dominant
What is the treatment of von Willebrand disease?
List 2 contraindictations to the use of DDAVP:
There is no day-to-day treatment. Treatment is given after a bleed or in preparation for surgery
1) VWF concentrate IV
2) Desmopressin - stimulates the release of VWF
3) Tranexamic acid - inhibits fibrinolysis (clot breakdown)
Contraindictations: young children, people with high cardiovascular risk
What is an autologous transplant?
What is an allogeneic transplant?
What is a syngeneic transplant?
What is an xenogeneic transplant?
What type of transplant has the highest risk of rejection?
Autologous transplant: tissue from the same person
Allogeneic transplant: tissue from another member of the same species (eg, human - human)
Syngeneic transplant: tissue from an identical twin
Xenogeneic transplant: tissue from a different species
Xeogeneic transplant has the biggest risk of rejection as it is tissue from another species
What is the cellular pathology that results in pernicious anaemia?
Autoimmune attack against intrinsic factor → B12 cannot be absorbed without intrinsic factor and patient becomes anaemic
What is a characteristic finding on a blood film that indicates chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?
Smudge cells
Skin prick testing is used to test for what type of hypersensitivity reaction?
Patch testing is used to test for what type of hypersensitivity reaction?
Skin prick testing = hypersensitivity I
Patch testing = hypersensitivity IV
What is the function of haptoglobins?
They remove free haemoglobin from the circulation
What chromosome is associated with chronic myeloid leukaemia? - what are the consequences of this?
What is the gene translocation?
What is the 1st line management of CML?
Philadelphia chromosome ⇒ BCR-ABL gene (oncogene)
t (9;22)
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (inhibit BCR-ABL!)
~ eg Imatinib